[VOIPSEC] Re: Voipsec Digest, Vol 4, Issue 4 --VOIP for free comments

jeffery.stutzman at us.pwc.com jeffery.stutzman at us.pwc.com
Fri Apr 8 09:03:38 CDT 2005 

There are several problems with this model (of someone in Taiwan putting 
it up for free, or even with Skype).
 
For example, if you're either a Vonage or Skype user (I currently have 
Vonage, and dumped Skype), you'll find inconsitant service from a call 
quality perspective. I use Vonage in  my home office and frequently find 
myself telling callers "Let me call you back on my cell." This is because 
about one in three calls is insufficient in quality to maintain good 
comms. With Skype, I like the model, but again, call quality has always 
been extremely poor. I travel a lot. Last year I spent time on six of the 
seven continents (I didn't go to Antarctica ;) and found that when I 
called home to New England the echo in my calls made the calls unbearable.

Why? Two reasons: Call managers were not positioned correctly 
(geographically separated or disbursed) to be able to handle global 
calling. You need this network of CMs or SoftPBX's (Asterisk for example) 
in good locations with adequate supporting bandwidth. Now add in the 
security needs.

The free model becomes expensive quickly. Not to say it can't be done, but 
there is a large barrier to entry for a new global (free) provider.

Jeff

Jeffery Stutzman, CISSP
Director, Threat and Vulnerability Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
(O) 617-530-7671
(M) 603-930-6483

PGP Fingerprint: 50A5 4951 AC0E B65B 1A8A  5193 2254 361B 97A7 2FE6



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Today's Topics:

   1. VOIP for free?? (Kartik Trivedi)
   2. Re: VOIP for free?? (Rafeeq Rehman)
   3. Re: VOIP for free?? (Diana Cionoiu)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 07:57:57 -0700
From: "Kartik Trivedi" <javapro13 at mac.com>
Subject: [VOIPSEC] VOIP for free??
To: <voipsec at voipsa.org>
Message-ID: <00b901c53ab9$05f61020$3b0117ac at foundstone.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
                 reply-type=response

Guys,

Just got this question from one of my friends...Any thoughts?

Just heard this, need to verify it. So you have companies like vonage and 
etc selling you VoIP phone with a local number. All you need is a internet 

broadband and a box then you got a US number. What is stopping someone 
ship 
this box to,say taiwan, and making int'l call paying local price($20 for 
unlimited call)? From my understanding, it is practically doable. Skype 
makes it free, but it doesn't give you a US phone number. So is there any 
security implication on this?

Thanks in advance!!




------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 13:04:44 -0400
From: Rafeeq Rehman <rafeeq.rehman at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [VOIPSEC] VOIP for free??
To: voipsec at voipsa.org
Message-ID: <a5e52b6a050407100461f10f17 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Yes that is true. This is how vonage and other companies market it.
See the link:

http://www.vonage.com/features.php?feature=phone_adapter 

and scroll down where it says "Take it on the road". Many call centers
around the globe use VoIP technology to provide services to global
customers.

However keep in mind that some countries may have strict restrictions
on use of VoIP to protect local telecom companies. Use of VoIP may be
illegal in those countries and you need to verify it before using it.
Also in some countries where Internet traffic goes through government
controlled entry and exit points, VoIP protocols may be blocked and it
may not work at all.

As for as Vonage is concerned, they make the same amount of money. For
them, it does not make any difference where a customer is physically
located.

As for as technology is concerned, I don't think there is any
"additional" security concern. However, it is more likely that your
conversations may be tapped, especially in countries where law
enforcement is not so good. Any other thoughts?

_RR

On Apr 6, 2005 10:57 AM, Kartik Trivedi <javapro13 at mac.com> wrote:
> Guys,
> 
> Just got this question from one of my friends...Any thoughts?
> 
> Just heard this, need to verify it. So you have companies like vonage 
and
> etc selling you VoIP phone with a local number. All you need is a 
internet
> broadband and a box then you got a US number. What is stopping someone 
ship
> this box to,say taiwan, and making int'l call paying local price($20 for
> unlimited call)? From my understanding, it is practically doable. Skype
> makes it free, but it doesn't give you a US phone number. So is there 
any
> security implication on this?
> 
> Thanks in advance!!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Voipsec mailing list
> Voipsec at voipsa.org
> http://voipsa.org/mailman/listinfo/voipsec_voipsa.org
>



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 18:37:33 +0300 (EEST)
From: Diana Cionoiu <diana-liste at voip.null.ro>
Subject: Re: [VOIPSEC] VOIP for free??
To: Kartik Trivedi <javapro13 at mac.com>
Cc: voipsec at voipsa.org
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.50.0504071836360.13693-100000 at dragoshel>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Hello Kartik,

See www.stanaphone.com. I have a number from them that have Manhatten area 

code and i'm living in Bucharest.

Security for who? 

Diana




> Guys,
> 
> Just got this question from one of my friends...Any thoughts?
> 
> Just heard this, need to verify it. So you have companies like vonage 
and 
> etc selling you VoIP phone with a local number. All you need is a 
internet 
> broadband and a box then you got a US number. What is stopping someone 
ship 
> this box to,say taiwan, and making int'l call paying local price($20 for 

> unlimited call)? From my understanding, it is practically doable. Skype 
> makes it free, but it doesn't give you a US phone number. So is there 
any 
> security implication on this?
> 
> Thanks in advance!!
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Voipsec mailing list
> Voipsec at voipsa.org
> http://voipsa.org/mailman/listinfo/voipsec_voipsa.org
> 



------------------------------

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